Hi, guys. It’s me, Kayla. It’s nice to see you again. I’m so sorry for leaving this blog silent for two months. The crickets were having a gathering, I’m sure. That short break turned into an extended vacation and I found it difficult to time my jump back into the waters of regular blogging again.

Some really exciting things happened while I was away, and I’ll share it with you shortly. But I’m back, and excited to return to the swing of a static routine!

As we’re nearing the end of April, it’s time to plan for the expenses we encounter in May. I’m still getting over how we can already be approaching May! But believe it or not, we’re pummeling further and further into spring and brushing the edges of summer.

So today, let’s talk about some expenses we might want to plan for during the month of May.

Weddings/Birthdays

May is the beginning of wedding season. It’s the perfect time for making vows, and hopefully your day is free of rain or even (shudder) snow. If you’re the lovely person getting married, you already know about the expenses associated with planning a wedding, but if you are a guest to the nuptials, plan ahead for these expenses:

• Wedding Gift/Card
• Traveling Cost to get to the Wedding
• New Clothing Cost
• Pre-wedding: Shower Gift

Additionally if your loved one is a May baby, you might want to consider birthday gifts/cards, party supplies, and food/dessert costs.

** And if you are a May baby, budget for the cost of renewing your vehicle registration or license plate if need be.

Mother’s Day

We have the pleasure of celebrating the wonderful mothers in our lives, whether biological or by choice, during the month of May. Whether you are celebrating their importance in your life by giving gifts, buying flowers, spoiling them with a nice lunch out, or going on a vacation together, now’s the time to plan out the details and plan financially. I love you, Mom!

Memorial Day (Weekend)

Memorial Day is a wonderful time to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Thank you to everyone who has or is serving and to your family. We appreciate you.

Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start to summer, and you’ll likely be found around a grill, enjoying the start of warmer weather and hanging out with friends and family. Remember the costs of these expenses and plan to include them in May’s budget.

• Party Essentials: You might be hosting it or are invited. Either way, plan for the cost of bringing a dish or buying the bulk of food/utensils/plates/drinks.
• Travel Expenses: Maybe you’re hitting the road to head “up north” or are making plans to head to a friend’s house, regardless of where the road takes you, plan for (potentially hiked up) gas prices and snacks for the road.

Gardening

I love gardening, I just wish I was better at it! May is a good time to get those seeds in the ground. If you’re tilling a garden of your own, you might want to budget for soil, plant food, tools, seeds, and plants. What do you like to plant?

Spring/Summer Outdoor Accessories

During spring and especially the early days of summer we start to see a little bit more of the sun and feel like enjoying its warmth more often. One sunny day and I’m desperate to get out and enjoy it. If you’re like me, you like to lounge on the porch and read.

If you’ve noticed that you’re in the market for new outdoor chairs or your patio set isn’t going to see the other side of winter, you might want to budget for purchasing a new set. Now is a great time to budget for anything outdoor related, because soon we’ll be in the thick of warm summer days and you won’t want to get stuck paying for things with money you don’t have set aside.

Spring Festivals

Does your town (or a town you’re traveling to) host a spring festival or carnival? Look out for admission costs, tickets for rides, and the cost of unique treats.

Garage Sales

Spring cleaning is in full swing. Whether or not you’ve purged the items that didn’t make the cut from your home, someone has, and they are probably hosting a garage sale in the next couple of weeks.

I love going to garage sales, but it can be too easy to go on a spending frenzy when everything is priced to sell. Make a realistic budget for what you think you might spend and stick to it. Money is one thing, but so is bringing unessential items into the home that will end up in your own sale next year. Have fun, and I hope you score some sweet finds!

Fishing

Fishing season is upon us! I’m from a town that celebrates the start of Walleye fishing season religiously with a parade, a city-wide garage sale, special events and a carnival. But for those just interested in catching some fish, don’t forget to budget for your fishing license!

Summer Vacation

It might seem like your summer vacation is far away, but it’s never too early to start saving and budgeting for your upcoming trip. You’ll be so happy when you have the cash in hand when that glorious day finally arrives!

What do you like to save and budget for during the month of May? I hope these suggestions help you when planning next month’s budget and that they spur some ideas I may have missed.

Happy spring!

Cheers!